for The Rest Of Us
for The Rest Of Them

    (From the Macintosh slogan "The computer for the
   rest of us") 1. Used to describe a spiffy product whose
   affordability shames other comparable products, or (more
   often) used sarcastically to describe spiffy but very
   overpriced products.

   2. Describes a program with a limited interface, deliberately
   limited capabilities, non-orthogonality, inability to
   compose primitives, or any other limitation designed to not
   "confuse" a naïve user.  This places an upper bound on how far
   that user can go before the program begins to get in the way
   of the task instead of helping accomplish it.

   Used in reference to Macintosh software which doesn't
   provide obvious capabilities because it is thought that the
   poor luser might not be able to handle them.  Becomes "the
   rest of *them*" when used in third-party reference; thus,
   "Yes, it is an attractive program, but it's designed for The
   Rest Of Them" means a program that superficially looks neat
   but has no depth beyond the surface flash.

   See also point-and-drool interface, user-friendly.

   [Jargon File]

   (2000-08-08)